Tackling hunger in our midst

Meeting of Friday, June
24th

Welcome, Invocation, Thought for the Day

Alan Baer rang the bell and called the
meeting to order for the last time as Club President.
After a short delay to locate an American flag and bring
it into the room, John Nicol led the
pledge of allegiance. Stoney asked for
a moment of silence for freedom, peace, and justice on
earth.

Rotarians with Guests

Connie Tritt introduced her guest,
fellow attorney Richard MacBride.

Jim Young introduced his good friend
since childhood, Doug Clark, who’s visiting
from Utah.

Announcements

Because of the July 4th holiday weekend, there will
be no Richmond Rotary Club lunch meeting on
Friday, July 1.

Special Events

Erle Brown made his last announcement
as the Club’s Rotary Foundation Chair. He introduced Joan
Davis as incoming Foundation Chair and announced
his own Paul Harris plus six. Thanks, Erle, for all your
great work with the Rotary Foundation!

Recognitions

Jim Beaver handled recognitions.

Dan Sanders recently celebrated
his third wedding anniversary. John Nicol added
that Dan’s wife, Sarah, will always be known
to some as “Kitty”, a last-minute name
substitute used on a past Reno Train Trip when a roster
had to be hurriedly compiled without all names available
from an original list.

Richard Alexander self-recognized
for his birthday last Sunday.

Happy and Sad Dollars

Stoney was happy about his grandson’s
recent graduation from high school.

Joe Bagley was happy to be back
at Rotary, explaining that, because Rita’s mother
is living with them now, he’s spending a lot
of time in the shop taking care of business … not
because he doesn’t enjoy being with his mother-in-law
but because Rita’s busy taking care of her … or
something like that.

Joan Davis had happy dollars for
having completed her second year at the Richmond Community
Foundation, for her granddaughter’s graduation
from Berkeley High School, and for her oldest son’s
newly born child (a grand-baby that she’ll be
visiting soon in Milwaukee).

John Nicol offered some happy dollars
and this thought for those who talk about “getting
old”: maybe you’ve arrived when both your
children are senior citizens (which both of John’s
are).

George Egan had some happy dollars
about his recent visit to Scotland and his joke (with
mixed reviews) about scotch and urine.

Herb Cole offered happy dollars
for some teasing of Bob Dabney and
for welcoming “visiting Rotarian”, Jon
Lawlis, who rejoined us after a brief hiatus.

Norm's Nonsense

A new widow was at the funeral parlor making final arrangements
with the undertaker when she decided to take a look in
the casket and was horrified to see her husband was wearing
a brown suit. She called the undertaker over and said, "I
told you a blue suit. All his relatives, friends and
associates have always known him in a blue suit. You
have to change that right now."

Undertaker: "But there's not much time left before
the service."
Widow: "I don't care, we can wait a little but get
it done."

The service proceeded with only a short wait and afterwards
the widow was congratulating the undertaker on the nice
service and also wondered how the undertaker had accomplished
the blue suit so fast.

Undertaker: "Well, I remembered we are having a
funeral later today for a gentleman in a blue suit. If
we had tried to undress and dress the two gentlemen it
would have meant a lengthy delay of your service, so
I just switched heads."

PROGRAM

Skewered and roasted

In keeping with longstanding Rotary tradition, outgoing Club
President, Alan Baer, was put on the skewer
for a little roasting.

Being ever the investigator, Glenn Daggs cleverly
and playfully led the research into Alan’s entrepreneurial
beginnings and confirmed the old adage that “Life Changes
Everything”.

At a very early age in the crib, Alan developed an obsession
for stuffed bunnies (aka hares, which rhymes with hairs, which
Alan seemed to have plenty of back then). Hares would figure
into later business start-ups.

While in college, Alan tried a summer job with Verizon while
spending hours on the phone answering “yes” to
the relentless questioning about being able to hear them now.
He then started a “Hare (Hair?) Club for Men” with
shiny-top Sid Chauvin as one of the early
investors and an even younger Bill Koziol being
one of the early beneficiaries of Alan’s magic potion.

There were other business escapades along the way, from “Baer
Car Wash, Inc”, with rather unique roles for female and
male employees, to “Baer’s Bunny/Hare Wear”,
which suffered from Hugh Hefner’s already well-established
market position.

During his investigation, Glenn found that Alan often came
up short in more ways than just business success. In family
photo after photo, one stunning fact consistently stood out.
It’s something that even his wife hasn’t been able
to change. Alan really likes short-sleeved shirts!

As the program moved into the gifts and awards phase, Glenn
presented Alan with a handsome pair of slip-on long sleeves
complete with attractive Rotary cuff links. Alan was also given
a Rotary appreciation plaque with gavel and his Past President’s
Pin.

With the roasting fun over, there was a standing round of
applause as Alan was honored not only for his hard work and
dedication over the past year as Rotary Club President but
also for his successful business operation (Armor Locksmith
Services) and selfless community service. Thanks, Alan, for
giving so freely and good-naturedly of yourself for others!

Since incoming Club President, EJ Shalaby, was not able to
be at this meeting, we will welcome him at the next Club gathering
on July 8.

- Tom Waller, Rotating Scribe

Upcoming Programs

July 1
Club Dark

July 15
Concord Rotarian Mike Barrington’s discusses his role as an auditor of RI Foundation grants, application of funds and their success at meeting their stated objective.

July 22We hear from members who gave their original “Who Am I” speech decades ago. As health and availability effects play a role, this program also has an element of surprise!

Have a suggestion for a speaker?
Please pass along the name and contact information
to Jim Young.